The chime of the bell resonated through the mountains, echoing for a long time and startling the cold birds within the forest.
While most of the sect's disciples were left speculating about the ancient bell's tolling, several figures were already riding the wind toward the base of Sword Gate Mountain. They landed amongst the peaks and began to ascend the long stone stairs toward the summit.
Within the Wendao Sword Sect, since its founding, only fourteen immortal swords had ever been officially recorded in the register.
Among them, nine were crafted by the hand of the Sword Ancestor alone. These naturally included the three located within One Sword Gorge: Demon-Slaying, Fiend-Slaying, and Evil-Devouring.
As for the other six of those nine, one remained in the Sword Ancestor's hand, while five were held by his five direct disciples. The names of those swords remained unknown to the public.
The remaining five immortal swords were in the possession of the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth ancestors, as well as the current Sect Master, Ye Xianyu.
When one looked at the numbers, the sect had stood for ten thousand years. The Sword Mound sat there, and countless disciples had rushed headlong into it to claim a blade, yet those who had managed to ascend to the Immortal Sword Pool and obtain an immortal sword numbered only five—excluding the Sword Ancestor himself.
Today, after a millennium, another had appeared. Having learned of this, they naturally could not help but come to witness the ceremony, to catch a glimpse of the new sword’s form and the elegance of the junior who had drawn it.
They came in pairs or trios, debating and whispering among themselves.
Speculations abounded regarding who exactly had drawn the sword. While there were many guesses and many had their suspicions, they could not be certain without seeing the person’s face.
They had come in a hurry, yet they ascended the stairs quite slowly.
Ascending the Fourth Sword Domain and stepping into the Immortal Sword Pool to claim a sword was never a quick affair.
Seeking the sword, having it recognize a master, and then drawing it—this process could take anywhere from several hours to an entire day. If one attempted to climb to the Fifth Sword Heaven, it would take even longer.
It was still early. There was no rush.
"I wonder which junior is so promising that they reached the Immortal Sword Pool so quietly. Tsk tsk, it really brings honor to us."
"Why ask what you already know? Aside from our Little Martial Uncle, I can't think of a second person."
"You old fox, you're always so sharp. You must have gotten some intel, didn't you? Out with it, out with it!"
"I took a moment to check just now. The Intelligence Hall does have news. Two days ago, our Little Martial Uncle entered the Sword Gate. Today, the golden light appeared and the bell chimed three times. Is there even a need to think?"
"Not necessarily, not necessarily. It might be someone else."
"If he really reached the Immortal Sword Pool in just two days, then this Little Martial Uncle is simply too terrifying. Back then, it took me ten days just to reach the Tianjian Pool, and another twenty-odd days to climb to the Fourth Sword Domain. I was exhausted after only a thousand steps."
"He spent four years enlightened by the sword stele and broke through three realms of foundation establishment within ten months of waking. Little Martial Uncle has never been an ordinary man; how can we even compare ourselves to him?"
Occasional arguments and theories were traded as one person after another reached the summit. Upon seeing the Sword Gate and Sect Master Ye Xianyu waiting there, they finally had their definitive answer...
"This old man greets the Sect Master!"
"This old woman greets the Sect Master!!"
Upon reaching the Sky Gate, they bowed in greeting.
Ye Xianyu nodded to each of them in response, saying with a faint smile, "You Pavilion Elders certainly arrived quickly."
The Pavilion Elders offered their compliments:
"Still a bit slower than the Sect Master."
"Three strikes of the ancient bell and the birth of an immortal sword is a joyous occasion the likes of which our Wendao Sword Sect hasn't seen in a thousand years. Since we heard of it, we naturally had to come and admire the sword's elegance."
"Heaven blesses our sect and the Sword Ancestor's grace remains. Another immortal sword is born, and another peerless talent is found."
Ye Xianyu narrowed her eyes slightly. "Alright, at your age, there's no need for such pretty words. It feels forced. Since you're here, join me in witnessing the ceremony. Let an immortal sword be revealed to the world of Fanzhou once more."
"Excellent, excellent!"
"Very good indeed!"
Before long, more than half of the Pavilion Elders had arrived. Peak Masters, Hall Masters, and several senior elders also gathered in this space.
In the blink of an eye, over a hundred people were present.
At that moment, someone asked despite knowing the answer, "May I ask the Sect Master, who is the person claiming the sword in the mound?"
Ye Xianyu said candidly, "Your Little Martial Uncle, Xu Xian."
Though everyone already had the answer in their hearts, hearing Ye Xianyu say it personally felt different. A wave of gasps and startled cries instantly broke out.
One person hurriedly added, "I heard Little Martial Uncle entered the Sword Mound the day before yesterday. To reach the Immortal Sword Pool in just two days... Little Martial Uncle's fortune is unprecedented in all of history."
Ye Xianyu pursed her lips and shot him a slow glance. "Your information is quite fast. You even know the details?"
"I wouldn't dare boast; I just happened to hear of it."
Ye Xianyu didn't press him further. She simply raised her eyes to gaze at the Sword Gate, recalling what Zhang Yang had said. She sighed with genuine emotion.
"Indeed. Others spend their entire lives without reaching it, yet he only needed two days to climb up. This Little Martial Uncle of yours truly is an extraordinary talent... He was born to be a member of our Wendao Sword Sect..."
She recalled the years past when she had climbed those steps herself.
She had reached the Tianjian Pool in two days and climbed to the Immortal Sword Pool in fifteen. She had spent twenty days attempting to reach the Divine Sword Pool to no avail, eventually spending a final day to claim her sword and return.
Back then, it was just like today, with all the Pavilion Elders offering their congratulations.
Her master had said at the time that she was the fastest disciple in the history of the Wendao Sword Sect to reach the Immortal Sword Pool.
He praised her as a once-in-a-century beast, a future great sword immortal.
Thus, her master accepted her on behalf of his own master, making them of the same generation; her master then became her Little Senior Brother.
Three hundred years passed.
She reached the great ascension stage.
Five hundred years passed.
She reached the peak of the great ascension stage.
A thousand years passed.
She underwent tribulation transcendence.
She became the youngest tribulation transcendence expert in all of Fanzhou.
Her Little Senior Brother went into seclusion.
She became the new Sect Master of the Wendao Sword Sect, managing the sect's affairs. A thousand years had passed in a flash since then.
Over that millennium, the Wendao Sword Sect had never lacked cultivation geniuses or promising talents. Li Qingshan, for instance, was quite famous in the cultivation world—a great ascension stage expert at just over five hundred years old.
Yet even so, he had failed to draw an immortal sword. He could only be considered a genius at best, but not a beast.
Xu Xian was different.
Reaching the Immortal Sword Pool in two days already far exceeded her own record. Furthermore, he had carried that child on his back for several thousand steps along the way. Had it not been for that, he might have been even faster.
However, from this incident, it was clear that Xu Xian's nature was excellent.
He could shoulder great responsibilities.
As long as no accidents occurred and he was nurtured well, he would surely be able to stand on his own in the future, perhaps even leading the Wendao Sword Sect to new heights.
At this moment, within Ye Xianyu's heart, she unknowingly placed immense expectations upon her little junior brother.
However... for Xu Xian, this wasn't necessarily a good thing. At the very least, in Ye Xianyu’s plans, her requirements for Xu Xian would invisibly become much more demanding.
Discussions continued all around. Elders, Hall Masters, and Pavilion Elders whispered to one another, their words mostly filled with admiration and praise.
Wen Qingxue hid herself in a corner, feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles.
Everyone here was an old fellow of the second generation. As a member of the third generation, she felt quite out of place. Yet she couldn't bear to leave; she wanted to witness Xu Xian's success and catch a glimpse of the immortal sword’s brilliance...
Li Qingshan, meanwhile, had arrived at Ye Xianyu’s side at some unknown point, looking full of energy. "Master, how about it? I didn't let you down this time, did I?"
Ye Xianyu suddenly asked, "What does this have to do with you?"
Li Qingshan said, "I was the one who kidn— I was the one who brought him back."
Ye Xianyu looked at him with great interest and asked back, "So?"
Li Qingshan was speechless. He reached out his hand to collect his debt. "Fine, then give me back the two million."
"What two million?" Ye Xianyu played dumb.
Li Qingshan looked around and lowered his voice. "If you don't settle the debt, I'm going to shout. You wouldn't want everyone to know that the dignified Sect Master of the Wendao Sword Sect is a sore loser, would you?"
Ye Xianyu shot him a cross look and said irritably, "I give up. Fine, I'll admit it, okay?"
Li Qingshan pulled out his dao jade. "Give me the money then."
Ye Xianyu smiled. "No rush. Let's have one more bet..."
"Hmm?"
Ye Xianyu continued on her own, "This time we’ll bet on whether your Little Martial Uncle can reach the Fifth Sword Heaven and draw the legendary divine sword. If he draws it, you win. If he doesn't, I win. Let's bet three million merit points."
Li Qingshan’s eyes went wide. "Damn, you’re doing this again?"
Ye Xianyu made the final call immediately. "Then it’s settled."
Li Qingshan: "..."
Ye Xianyu: "What did you say?"
Li Qingshan: "I said, you’re so damn beautiful."
Ye Xianyu: "Hoho... Everyone knows that!"
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